The Year in Beer

Name: Black & Brew

Brewer: Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Co.), Boston, Mass.

By the numbers: 208 calories per 12 oz.; 5.6 percent alcohol by volume

Notes: This is the newest Samuel Adams beer. It’s part of the 2011 Winter Classics box. Last year, Sam’s added Chocolate Bock to the box to replace the awful Cranberry Lambic, but then erred again by putting a spring beer (White Ale) in the box in place of Cream Stout. That’s why Black & Brew is a welcome addition. It’s definitely a winter beer and it’s a good one. It pours a dark black with a tan head. The body is medium for a stout, but pretty creamy. They use Sumatran coffee to give it the light coffee aroma. It has a nice coffee taste on the front end and finishes with a warm malty taste. It’s not overly bitter.

Try it with: Chocolate Bock. I don’t usually recommend mixing beers, but after you’ve tried one of these straight, go half and half with a Chocolate Bock (which is a tad sweet) and make a mocha. Leinenkugel’s actually has a chart of suggested mixes for their beers, so it’s not unheard of.

    — Posted by Mike Freimann